Our guide to Dallas-area pumpkin patches

The Dallas Arboretum remains the absolute gold standard for picturesque settings in any season. It's the gem of North Texas.

• Address: 8525 Garland Road, Dallas
• Cost: $12 to $17 and reservations are required.

The Dallas Farmers Market has a sea of orange pumpkins set up in the "The Shed." It's mostly empty during the day, so you'll have time to reshoot the pictures you don't like.

• Address: 1010 S. Pearl Expressway, Dallas
• Cost: Free, though pumpkins are for sale.

St. James Episcopal Church, in Northeast Dallas, always has a huge selection of pumpkins and plenty of cool setups.

• Address: 9845 McCree Rd, Dallas
• Cost: Free to visit, pumpkins are priced by size.

Storybook Ranch in McKinney has a hay maze and a petting zoo, and every child gets a free mini-pumpkin with admission while supplies last.

• Address: 3701 Custer Rd, McKinney
• Cost: $15 for kids, $5 for adults. Parking is free.

Howell Farms in Arlington has an elaborate exhibition they call "Pumpkin Nights," which includes thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, the world's largest pumpkin guitar and a pumpkin pirate ship.

• Address: 4016 W. Division St., Arlington
• Cost: $14 to $23, depending on age and the time you visit. Parking is $10.

Hall's Pumpkin Farm in Grapevine has huge stacks of gourds, but it also has a cool corn maze!

• Address: 3420 Hall Johnson Road, Grapevine
• Cost: $15 for anyone 12 and older, $10 for kids ages 4 to 11, free for kids 3 and under. Admission includes the corn maze. Cash only.